MetalBite Review by Adam M on 5/26/2016
Black Tusk performs a punk infused form of metal. There is that raw energy from that genre that is so infectious and bleeds its way into the songs on Pillars of Ash.

One can get a sense of excitement from songs like Bleed on Your Knees which rollicks along nicely. The riffs of this band are quick and effective in putting together songs that are catchy to listen to. The entirety of the approach is concentrated upon delivering music that has a solid beat to it. Still, there are enough nuances here to give the proceedings a slight bit of added complexity. The music is still a bit too typical sounding as if it could be elevated by more thoughtfulness. Still, the band puts out fairly solid song-writing within the niche that they’re playing within. This leads to a raw purity that is something to behold. What the music lacks in inventiveness, it more than makes up for in sheer energy. The straightforwardness may be a fault, but it also helps this record with its rawness and to the point approach. Thus there is a feeling that the band is doing their best Baroness impression with the music here. It could be a little closer to attaining the excellence that was found on the most recent album, Purple, however. There is certainly a more punk vibe to this band, even though they are comparable. The outright musical energy that is found here is similar to Baroness. Adding some interesting interludes and thoughtful moments could make this band more compelling for the future.

What we’re left with is a stripped down approach that is catchy, but lacks some power and presence. With a few added tweaks the music of Black Tusk could be even better, though it’s already very good.